Culinary apparatus



(No Model.)

M. MARSHFIELD.

CULINARY APPARATUS.

No. 484,599. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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i 1 fl l I fl mmmmmlmi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAGGIE MARSHFIELD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CULINARY APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,599, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed August 3, 1891. Serial No. 401,533. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, MAGGIE MARSHFIELD, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Culinary Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to culinary apparatus, and is primarily designed for use in carrying out the process of preserving fruit set forth in an application for Letters Patent filed by me October 25, 1890, Serial No. 369,284.

The invention has for its object to produce an apparatus not only specially adapted to facilitate the carrying out of said process, but also having certain special advantages in carrying out other culinary operations.

To these ends my invention cousists'in certain novel features,which I will now proceed to describe, and will then particularly point out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cover detached. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the steamer, showing two forms thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation showing one form of connecting device between the steamer and vessel or generator. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing a modified form of this connection. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a portion of the upper bottom or diaphragm detached.

In the said drawings, A represents a vessel of any suitable material, which is desirably so constructed as to its bottom as to fit the holes of the ordinary stove-plate A. The upper portion or mouth of the vessel A is preferably somewhat flaring, forming a lip or flange a to receive and fit the steamer. It will be understood, however, that the vessel A may be of any form suitable for its purpose.

B indicates the steamer as a whole, comprising a cylindric body B',adetachable bottom C, and a cover or top D. The bottom C is preferably composed of an annular body 0 to fit within the body B and an inclined annular flange or lip 0, adapted to fit the inclined flange or lip a of the vessel A and seamed or otherwise connected with the body 0 to form a radial flange 0 to rest on the edge or margin of the vessel A. The annular flange c is bent to form a second lip or flange 0 to which is secured in any suitable manner an apertured diaphragm 0", which forms the bottom proper. The apparatus comprises a plurality of bottoms'C, having apertured diaphragms c of differing fineness or size of openings, and in Fig. 3 I have shown two of these bot-toms, one consisting of a perforated plate of sheet metal or the like, forming a coarsemeshed sieve or colander by reason of the relatively-large size of the apertures, and the other consisting of wire-gauze, wire-netting, or wire-cloth having a relatively-fine mesh.

The bottom C is detachably connected with the body B of the steamer, and in Figs. 1 and 4 I have shown a simple and effioient form of bayonet-joint connection, consisting of radial pins 0 on the bottom C and angular slots or notches bin the body B. The body and bottom may by reason of this construction be readily connected and disconnected in a simple and well-known manner.

Other forms of connection may, however, be substituted for the bayonet-joint, and in Fig.

5 I have shown a simple screw connection,

the annulus C of the cover being threaded to screw in to the correspondiugly-threaded lower end of the body B.

The cover D is adapted to fit snugly in or on the body B of the steamer and is provided with valve-apertures d, which are controlled by valves (1 on the under or inner side thereof, said valves being attached to theends of a cross-bar 01 which is secured on the lower end of a shaft of, extending upward through the cover and provided with a knob or handle (1 by means of which it may be rotated.

I sometimes find it desirable to provide the steamer B with a second apertured bottom or diaphragm E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, which may be constructed of wire-cloth, wirenetting, or wiregauze a, secured to a wire hoop or annulus 6', provided with a handle or ring 6 by means of which it may be removed or replaced. This second bottom is suitably supported within the body B, which is provided with an internal bead or flange b, upon which the ring e rests, the said bottom E being thus readily removable.

In using the apparatus just described for carrying out the process set forthin my prior application hercinbefore referred to a bottom 0, having openings of a fineness or mesh adapted to the particular kind of fruit to be treated, is selected and connected with the body B of the steamer. Sugar and water or sirup are or is placed in the vessel A. The fruit to be treated is placed in the steamer B, resting on the apertured bottom of this latter, and said steamer placed on the vessel A and closed by the cover D, whereupon the vessel A is exposed to the action of heat, the steam rising into the steamer B and cooking the fruit, while the fruit-juices descend into the vessel A and mingle with the sirup therein. When suificiently cooked, the fruit is transferred from the steamer B to the vessel A by removing the steamer from the vessel, taking oif the cover, and pouring the contents into the vessel. In the making of jam and jelly the fruit may be forced through the apertures of the bottom of the steamer into the vessel A, the result obtained being controlled by the size or fineness of the apertures or mesh of the said bottom. The fit between the steamer B and vessel A will be sutfioien tly exact to prevent any serious escape of steam, and the process may be regulated by means of the valve-apertures and valves of the cover.

While especially adapted for use in connection with my process for preserving fruit,

the apparatus is also capable of advantageous.

use in the cooking or steaming of vegetables and other edible substances. In this application of the apparatus the use of two apertured bottoms is particularly advantageous, as different articles may be cooked in the separate compartments formed thereby. If, for instance, two kinds of vegetables requiring difierent amounts of cooking are to be simultaneously treated, that kind requiring the most cooking is placed in the lower compartment on the bottom 0, where it is subjected to the full action of the steam, while that kind requiring the least cooking is placed in the upper compartment on the bottom E, the apertures d in the cover D being opened to the extent necessary to permit the escape of a part of the steam, and thus equalize the perlod of cooking and produce the desired result.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that these may be varied in many ways without departing from the'principle of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with a steam-generating vessel, of a steamer the body of which is of cylindric form and adapted to fit at its bottom upon the upper margin of the vessel, said steamer being provided with an apertured bottom provided with an annular rim made of cylindric form and of proper size to fit within the body of the' steamer at the lower edge of the latter, and interlocking parts or surfaces upon thelower margin of the steamer and the rim of the bottom for detachably securing the bottom in the steamer, substantially as described.

2. A'steamer comprising a cylindric body provided atits lower edge with a flange to fit upon the top margin of a steam-generating vessel and provided with an apertured bottom, a second apertured bottom removably supported in the body. about midway of its height, and a removable cover fitting the top of the vessel and provided with valve-openings and controlling-valves, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention Iafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAGGIE MARSHFIELD.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, IRVINE MILLER. 

